Bowler&#39;s posture corrective apparatus



'Au .2o, 1963 T..J.FE RARA. 3,101,196

BOWLER'S POSTURE CORRECTIVE APPARATUS I Filed Sept. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR; 72/0/1445 JrZWAw/m 8% w Q /J k Aug. 20, 1963 T. J. FERRARA 3,101,196

BOWLERS POSTURE CORRECTIVE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR. TAM/W45 I/mwm United States Patent BUIVLERS FUMURE CORREU'IIVE APPARATUS Thomas .I. Ferrara, 2121 S. Redell Ave, Monrovia, tCaiif.

Filed Sept. 18, 196i, Ser. No. 138,9tll 8 tilt rims. (Cl. 2734 This invention relates to posture corrective apparatus. More particularly, it relates to apparatus for maintaining the correct posture of a bowler during delivery of the bowling ball.

'In the sport of bowling there are two popular methods of aiming the ball. One of these methods is known as the spot bowling method wherein the bowler attempts to have the ball pass over a certain pro-located spot adjacent the foul line so that, consistent with the bowlers style and the nature of the roll of his ball, the ball strikes a preselected location of the arrangement of pins at the remote end of the alley. In this method if the bowler finds that he has a particular amount of hook to his roll, he preselects one of the pre-located spots adjacent the foul line, and, if his bowling ball passes over this particular preselected spot, there is good likelihood that he will roll a strike.

The second method of aiming the ball is for the bowler to maintain his eyes fixed on the location he wishes the ball to hit. In order to attain a strike, it is important that the bowler keep his eyes fixed-on this location. In this method the bowler is merely by-passin-g the spot method since, among expert bowlers utilizing this method, it is found that the ball consistently passes over a particular one of the pre-located spots adjacent the foul line.

Regardless of the method which the bowler utilizes to sight his target, the successful practice of either one of these methods depends upon the bowlers delivery and particularly upon the posture during delivery of the ball. It has long been recognized that the most effective style of delivery of the bowling ball requires that the bowlers shoulders be parallel to the floor and to the foul line. In this conventional delivery, the delivery hand will pass through the desired arc if the bowlers delivery shoulder is maintained in a constant position relative to his back and hip. If the delivery shoulder drops, the delivery arm is displaced transversely of the bowling alley a slight amount such that it is diflicult to be certain that the ball will pass over the preselected spot. In the conventional form or posture during delivery of the ball, the free or non-delivery hand and arm are thrust down and back from the non-delivery shoulder. This maintains the opposite or non-delivery shoulder in a downward condition such that the shoulders are parallel to the foul line. With this form.

or posture it is possible for the bowler to consistently deliver the ball to the predetermined spot or to the preselected pocket in the arrangement of bowling pins.

It is a common fault of many bowlers, novices as well as more advanced and accomplished bowlers, that they try particularly hard to achieve a strike and raise their opposite arm to a horizontal or to an even more elevated condition to balance the excess movement of the delivery arm. When the non-delivery arm is so raised, the delivery shouilder dips and the accuracy of the delivery is impaired. t

This invention provides apparatus which is worn by the bowler while bowling a game. This posture correcting apparatus maintains the non-delivery shoulder in a downward or horizontal relationship with the opposite or delivery shoulder. The apparatus is comfortable to wear and does not interfere with the delivery arm so as to impair the fluidity or timing of the bowlers movements.

Generally speaking, this invention provides a bowlers posture corrective apparatus comprising a member enplastic.

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gageable over the bowlers shoulder on the side of his body opposite from the side from which a bowling ball is delivered. An elongated flexible extension having a predetermined length is connected to the shoulder member. Additionally, this invention provides means at the waist of the bowler on the bowlers opposite or non-delivery side in which the extension from the shoulder member is engageable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoulder member extension passes through the waist means and has its free end engageable with the arm or hand of the non-delivery arm of the bowler. Also, a chest strap is provided to maintain the shoulder engageable member properly seated or engaged on the bowlers opposite or non-delivery shoulder.

The following detailed explanation and description of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front View of a bowler wearing the pos ture corrective device;

FIGURE 2 is a side View of the bowler showing the posture corrective device as worn;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational front view of the apparatus of the posture corrective device showing the bowlers torso in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the arm engageable means at the end of the shoulder member extension;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of the arm engageable means;

FIGURE 6 is a View of a bowler wearing an alternate form of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-section of the belt engaging loop of the apparatus shown in- FIGURE 6'.

Referring to FIGURE :1, the bowler 9 illustrated has a delivery shoulder 10' and a delivery arm II. The delivery arm 11 and delivery shoulder 10 are on the side of the bowlers body 12 from which a bowling ball 13 is delivered to a bowling alley. On the opposite side of the bowlers body is his opposite shoulder 14 and his free or non-bowling arm 15.

As illustrated particularly well in FIGURE 3, the posture corrective apparatus 20 provided by this invention has a shoulder engageable portion or member 21 fabricated from a length of flexible material such as cloth or The ends of the strip or tape comprising member 21 are secured to a ring 22. In position on the bowlers body 12, the ring 22 is located adjacent the armpit on the bowlers opposite or non-delivery side. An extension strip 23 fabricated from a length of flexible material such as oloth or plastic is connected to the ring 22 and extends downwardly away from the shoulder engageable member 21.

The bowler 9 weans a belt 25 around his waist. The belt 25 is normally supported within belt loops or guides 26. A ring or extension guide member 27 is secured to zone of the belt guide loops 26 in the vicinity of his nondelivery side. Depending upon the particular style of the bowler and upon his physical size, the ring 27 may be positioned directly on his opposite or non-delivery side or more toward the forward portion of his body. The extension strip 23 passes through the loop 27 to terminate in a remote end 28. At the end '28 extension 23 has a loop 29 formed therein by folding the flexible material back upon itself to be stitched as at 30. The loop 29 is engageable with the thumb of the bowlers nondelivery hand as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Alternatively, the loop 29 maybe of a size so :as to be engageable around the wrist of the bowlers non-delivery arm 15, as is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

A slide clasp or buckle 31 and a loop 32 are provided in the extension strip 23 if it is desired to vary the length of the extension 2.3. Normally, the extension 23 is of a predetermined length to suit the bowler. This length may be predetermined by the manufacturer of the posture apparatus 20 if the extension is of a single length of material.

A chest loop 33 is secured to the shoulder loop or member 21 and is arranged to pass around the bowlers torso 12 in the vicinity of his chest. In order to provide for adjustability of the chest band 33, a buckle 34- and a link or loop 35 may be provided in the chest band 33 so that the size of the chest band 33 may be regulated to comfortably conform to the particular chest size of the bowler. Alternatively, the chest strap 33 may be fabricated from a unitary length of material.

In -a preferred form of the invention the shoulder engageable member 21 is fabricated from an inelastic length of material such as woven cotton tape. The shoulder member extension 23 and the chest strap 33 are fabricated from elastic tape in this preferred embodiment of the invention. When the extension 23 is fabricated from elastic tape the size of the loop 29 may conveniently be made of a standard size engagea'ble either with the thumb or with the Wrist of the average bowler. It is Within the scope of this invention, however, that the extension strip 23 may be inelastic or that the shoulder member 21 may be elastic.

When the posture corrective apparatus 20 is properly positioned on the bowlers body 12 with the loop or arm engaging means 29 secured either to the bowlers thumb or around his wrist, the bowler may then proceed with his normal bowling technique. The length of the extension 23 is such that it is possible for the bowler to use both hands to initially pick up and hold the bowling ball 13. During the course of the delivery, however, when the opposite arm is disengaged from the bowling ball 13, the corrective apparatus becomes important. As mentioned in theintroduction to this description, normal bowling posture provides that the bowlers opposite arm be held down and back from the bowlers body as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. So long as the bowler is maintaining the correct posture he will not be aware of the presence of the posture apparatus 20. Should the bowler, however, in an attempt to roll a particularly hard ball, elevate his opposite arm 15 in order to balance the effort exerted by arm 11, the corrective apparatus 26 then becomes effective. If the bowler tries to elevate his arm two things occur.

First, the presence of the loop 29 and belt ring 27 maintain the bowlers opposite arm 15 down against his side. Additionally, if the arm 15 is raised, the sliding connection made by the extension 23 in the belt loop or ring 27 'is such that a downward pressure will be exerted against the upper side of the bowlers opposite shoulder 14. These combined forces subtly notify the bowler that he is departing from his conventional style such that he makes an automatic correction to bring the opposite shoulder back into position where it belongs. As is illustrated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1, when the bowlers opposite arm 15 is elevated, the opposite shoulder rises such that the delivery shoulder 10 falls. When the delivery shoulder falls into the dotted line position of FIGURE 1, the bowling ball 13 is displaced transversely of the bowling alley a small amount such that the ball 13 will not be released in the location the bowler 1 ad originally intended.

It is possible for :the effective practice of this invention that the chest loop 33 be deleted from the apparatus illustrated. The omission of the chest band 33, however, may result in the shoulder member 21 becoming disengaged with the opposite shoulder 14 during the preliminary motions \of the bowler 'as he picks up the bowling ball 13 from its rack.

FIGURES l, 2, and 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment or form of this invention. It is possible to accomplish the same results with a modified form of the invention wherein the extension 23 from the shoulder l member 21 terminates at and is engaged with a belt guide loop 26 or belt ring 27. Such an embodiment :of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 6. The extension 41 of the corrective apparatus 40 is fabricated from inelastic tape so that the slightest upward movement of the bowlers opposite shoulder 1.4 is restrained by the inelastic tape. A shoulder engaging portion 4-2 of the bowlers corrective apparatus 44 is secured to the vertical extension 41 through a ring or clasp 43. As is the case with the extension 41, the shoulder member or loop 42 is fabricated from a substantially inelastic flexible length of material.

The ends of the shoulder strap 42 may be doubled back upon themselves after passing through the ring 43 to be secured in a bight relative to the ring. Rivets or studs 44 are convenient examples of such connection means.

The lower end of the extension 41 has a doubled portion or bight 45 through which is engaged a belt 46 which the bowler normally wears. In the case of the belt bight 45, the loop preferably is adjustable. Double-headed rivets 47 (see FIGURE 7) having a shank 48 connecting spaced apart heads 49 are utilized for providing adjustable connection between the parallel extents of the bight portion 45. The extension member 41 has a plurality of longitudinal slits 50 spaced from one another adjacent the end of the extension 45. The slits are of a nature such that the heads 49 of the rivets 47 may be passed through the inelastic tape, but when the shank 48 is perpendicular to the tape 41 the heads will not pass the slits 5%. Similarly, conventional snaps or buckles may be utilized in lieu of the particular connection means illustrated in FIGURE 7.

It should also be realized that the proper practice of this invention does not require the rings 32 and 35 and the slide clas-ps 3 1 and 34 providing adjustability of this invention. It is within the scope of this invention that the apparatus Ell be manufactured in sizes corresponding to different sized bowlers. When this is done there is no need for the provision of adjustability. It should be recognized, however, that manufacture of the apparatus 2b as it is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 6 provides a more economical and marketable device.

It is also within the scope of this invention that the ring l2 provided between the shoulder engageable tape 21 and the extension strips 23 be deleted and that the ends of the shoulder engageab-le member 2 1 and the upper end of the extension 23 may be stitched or riveted together to accomplish the effect provided by the ring 2 2.

From the foregoing explanation and description of the apparatus 20 or 40 provided by this invention, it should be apparent that the posture corrective device 20 or 49 provides a simple means for maintaining the correct posture in la bowlers delivery. The device is comfortable to wear and the bowler normally is not aware that he is wearing the corrective device unless he makes an error or departs substantially from the desired bowling form.

When the bowler departs from this form, his opposite shoulder 14 is maintained downwardly such that his delivery shoulder 10 is maintained in the proper position to assure accurate and consistent delivery of the ball for a high scoring game.

While the invention has been described above in conjunction with specific apparatus, this has been by way of example and should not be considered as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Bowlers posture corrective apparatus comprising a member engagea-ble over a bowlers shoulder on the nondelivery side of his body opposite from the delivery side from which a bowling ball is delivered, an elongated flexible extension having a predetermined length connected to the shoulder engageable member, and means engageable at the waist of the bowler on the said non-delivery side with which the extension is engageable, whereby the predetermined length of the extension restrains the nondelivery shoulder from undesirable upward movement during delivery of the ball.

2. Bowlers posture corrective apparatus comprising a flexible member engageable over a bowlers shoulder on the non-delivery side of his body opposite from the delivery side from which a bowling ball is delivered, an elongated flexible inelastic extension having a predetermined length connected to the shoulder engageable member and extending to an end removed from the shoulder engageable member and engaged at a preselected location on the non-delivery side of the bowlers body, means in the extension for preselecting the predetermined length, and means at the waist of the bowler on the said non delivery side with which the extension is engageable, whereby the predetermined length of the extension between the shoulder engageable member and the bowlers waist restrains the non-delivery shoulder from undesirable upward movement during delivery of the ball.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means at the waist comprises a bight portion of the extension below the non-delivery shoulder engageable with a belt Worn at the bowlers waist.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means at the waist comprises a guide loop positioned on the nondelivery side of the bowlers body and through which the extension passes, and including means at the end of the extension for engaging a preselected part of the bowlers non-delivery arm.

5. Bowlers posture corrective apparatus comprising a member engageable over a bowlers shoulder on the nondelivery side of his body opposite from the delivery side from which a bowling ball is delivered, an elongated flexible extension having a predetermined length connected to the shoulder engageable member, means engagealble at the waist of the bowler on the said non-delivery side through which the extension is engageable, and means at the end of the extension engageable with a portion of the bowlers arm on the said non-delivery side of his body.

6. Bowlers posture corrective apparatus comprising a member engageable over a bowlers shoulder on the. nondelivery side of his body opposite from the delivery side from which a bowling ball is delivered, a strap connected to the shoulder engageable means and engageable around the bowlers torso in the vicinity of the chest, an elongated flexible extension having a predetermined length connected to the shoulder engageable member, means engageable at the waist of the bowler on the said non-delivery side through which the extension is engageable, and means at the end of the extension opposite the waist means from the shoulder engageable means engageable with a portion strip of material engageable with the bowlers non delivery shoulder and having its opposite ends engaged with a common ring, an elastic strip having one end engaged with the ring and having a loop fashioned at its opposite end engageable with a portion of the bowlers non-delivery arm, a ring engageable atthe waist of the bowler on the non-delivery side of the bowlers body through which the extension passes intermediate of its ends, a chest strap having its ends connected to the inelastic strip at'spacedapart locations for maintaining the inelastic strip in proper position on a bowlers body, and means in the chest strap and the extension for regulating the dimensions of the chest strap and extension to conform to the size of a bowler. A

-8. Apparatus for correcting and maintaining a bowlers posture during delivery of la bowling ball comprising a member engageable over a bowlers shoulder on the side of his body opposite from the side from which a bowling ball is delivered, an elongated flexible extension having a predetermined length connected to the shoulder engageable member and extending to an end remote from the shoulder engageable member, means at the end of the extension engageable at a preselected portion of the bowlers body on the side of his body opposite from the side from which the bowling ball is delivered, the predetermined length of the extension corresponding to the distance along a preselected path between the preselected body portion during proper delivery of the bowling ball and a horizontal position of the adjacent shoulder, the bowlers waist sub stantially below the shoulder en'gageable member constituting a point on said preselected path, means substantially below the bowlers shoulder engageable member with which the extension is engageable to position the extension along the preselected path,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,153 McCarthy Sept. 14, 1937 2,808,267 Heaton Oct. 1, 1957 3,000,633 Bonovich Sept. 19, 1961 

1. BOWLER''S POSTURE CORRECTIVE APPARATUS COMPRISING A MEMBER ENGAGEABLE OVER A BOWLER''S SHOULDER ON THE NONDELIVERY SIDE OF HIS BODY OPPOSITE FROM THE DELIVERY SIDE FROM WHICH A BOWLING BALL IS DELIVERED, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE EXTENSION HAVING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH CONNECTED TO THE SHOULDER ENGAGEABLE MEMBER, AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE AT THE WAIST OF THE BOWLER ON THE SAID NON-DELIVERY SIDE WITH WHICH THE EXTENSION IS ENGAGEABLE, WHEREBY THE PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF THE EXTENSION RESTRAINS THE NONDELIVERY SHOULDER FROM UNDESIRABLE UPWARD MOVEMENT DURING DELIVERY OF THE BALL. 